Know Your Rights and Survive: Overcoming Domestic Violence
For this year’s International Day of Peace, Tennessee United for Human Rights is sponsoring a panel conversation on the theme “Know Your Rights and Survive: Overcoming Domestic Violence.”
Time: Wednesday September 21, 2016 at 4:00pm – 6:00 pm
Place: Church of Scientology Community Hall, 1130 8th Ave S, Nashville, Tennessee
Cost: Free, please register on Eventbrite. 
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Panelists:
- Allison Cooley, Legal Aid Society
- Trish Davis, YWCA Weaver Shelter
- Bethanie Poe, Tennessee Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence
- Judge Allegra Montgomery-Walker, General Sessions Court
- Lt. Charles Widener, MNPD Domestic Violence Division
Allison Cooley
Allison Cooley is a graduate of the Charlotte School of Law. She completed her undergraduate degree at Loyola University in New Orleans in 2007. She was a Charlotte School of Law Post-Graduate fellow with the Nashville office of the Legal Aid Society for six months before joining the staff in 2012. Since 2012, Allison has represented victims of domestic violence in Orders of Protection and in divorce cases in Davidson, Williamson, Macon, Wilson and Sumner counties and in the TN Court of Appeals. Allison is a recipient of the 2016-2018 American Bar Association Family Law Section Fellowship. She is a member of the Nashville Bar Association Leadership Law Class of 2016. Allison is co-chair of the Lawyers Association of Women Domestic Violence Committee. She also is a board member of the Nashville Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Allison and her husband, Lane, have two young daughters, Ruby and Eliza Lou.
Trish Davis
Trish Davis, Director of Domestic Violence Services, joined YWCA in August of 2010. Ms. Davis is responsible for the day to day operations of YWCA’s domestic violence services including the 24 hour crisis line, shelter and housing programs. Ms. Davis holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree in psychology from Middle Tennessee State University. Ms. Davis has over 6 years of experience working in residential settings with domestic violence survivors. In addition, Ms. Davis has over 6 years of experience in for-profit management.
Bethanie Poe
Bethanie A. Poe, LMSW is a program specialist with the Tennessee Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence who focuses on working with batterer’s intervention programs across the state. She began her work in domestic violence over 10 years ago as an intern and then employee in a domestic violence shelter in Knoxville, TN. Since then she has worked for the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services before returning to school to begin her PhD at the University of Tennessee College of Social Work. While working on her degree, Bethanie has also worked with the Mental Health Association of East Tennessee to provide mental health education to students across East Tennessee as well as teaching social work classes in group based interventions and policy at UT. Bethanie recently completed all of the requirements for her PhD and will officially graduate in December 2016.
Judge Allegra Walker
Allegra Montgomery Walker was elected to General Sessions Court, Div. IV August 2014. Before being elected, she served an Assistant District Attorney for the Davidson County District Attorneys General’s Office. While serving in that capacity, she focused her practice on Domestic Violence. Upon her departure from the District Attorney’s Office, Judge Walker was recognized by her peers for her work in domestic violence. In addition to serving as a prosecutor, Judge Walker served as an Assistant Public Defender for the Davidson County Public Defender’s Office. Judge Walker has been active participant in the Nashville community for a number of years, However, she maintains membership in the Nashville Bar Association, the Napier Looby Bar Association, Lawyer’s Association for Women, the General Alumni Association of Fisk University, the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Women in Numbers, and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Judge Walker is married with one child.
Lt. Charles Widener
Lieutenant Tommy Widener has over 16 years of Servant Leadership within law enforcement with the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department. He currently holds the title of Lieutenant at the Domestic Violence Division whereas he oversees the management and subsequent assignment of Domestic Violence Incidents within Davidson County. His previous investigatory experience includes time in the Specialized Investigative Division, Hermitage Precinct Investigations and additionally was a Domestic Violence Detective from 2005-2007. Additionally, Lt. Widener teaches on the topic of Domestic Violence throughout the United States. Lastly, Lt. Widener is married to his wife Tiffany of 20 years and has two sons, Jordan who is 14 and Brody who is 10 years old.
Agencies with related resources will be available before and after the discussion. Booths include:
- Free for Life International
- Mothers of Black Boys
- Pass the Beauty
- Thrive Alliance for Single Mothers
- Veterans For Peace
- Vision Heirs Inc.
- Youth Against Murder
- Youth for Human Rights
- Contact Us to be added to this list!
Come out to learn how to help victims of domestic violence and work for a better future for all people.